Lavandula x intermedia &#39;Bridget Chloe&#39;

ABSTRACT

The genus of the claimed plant is  Lavandula . The species it belongs to is × intermedia , and the variety name is ‘Bridget Chloe’. 
     The parent plants from which this plant cultivar has been cloned were  Lavandula×intermedia  ‘Provence’. 
     The striking difference with this new plant variety (cultivar) is that it is very hardy in a hot, humid environment, with noticeably less foliage dieback in the summer months, and has low root rot occurrences. It has also demonstrated a strong resistance to both Lavender Leaf Spot and the Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. 
     The plant has a multi-faceted fragrance that begins firstly during flower spike development, with a hint or slight note (aroma) similar to that of black Cavendish tobacco, and then transforms through bud development to secondly, a desirable mild lilac note, and, lastly, a strong, rich, floral fragrance with a pleasing, non pungent, floral covered camphorous note. The rich floral fragrance continues to be observed in the dried flower buds from this plant, and it is long lasting. This multi noted aroma falls within the Aromatic Fougere fragrance category. 
     Immature flowers in this new plant variety (cultivar) display deep green 5  flower bracts and green 4  turning to dark purple 3  calyxes whereas, mature flowers have desirable deep green 5  bracks, dark purple 3  calyxes, and deep purple 1  to vivid purple 2  corollas, unlike Provence and other Lavandin expressions in this market class. 
     The flower cluster (whorl) number per spike for the plant on average is high at 11.5, with up to fourteen clusters per spike not uncommon; and the flower bracts have an impressive 5 to 9 flowers per bract. 
     When harvested at peak calyx development, the dried flowers of the plant partially hold their desirable dark purple 3  color, unlike the majority of the Lavendins which turn grayish in color.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no utility, co-pending or other original applications involvedwith this plant patent application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSERED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (IFANY)

No Federally-sponsored research or development involvement was or isinvolved.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Genus: Lavandula

Species: ×intermedia

VARIETY DENOMINATION

Cultivar variety: a new Lavandin, ‘Bridget Chloe’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The botanical name and market class of the invention isLavandula×intermedia, which is often referred to as a Lavandin. ALavandin occurs as a result of a cross between two plants in thelavender family, namely Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.The parent plants of the invention were the Lavandin, Provence. Theintermediate features of the invention closely mimic that of theLavandins which are known for their many morphological expressions. Thediscovery of this plant variety (cultivar), with its tolerance to heat,cold temperatures, and high humidity of the Georgia mountain region ofthe southeastern United States, would be offered to the nursery industryas a candidate for a lavender cultivar with high visual and complexfragrance attributes, and having a quality of high survival success in atemperate environment where sultry summer heat, moderately cold winters,and high humidity conditions exist.

2. Description of relevant prior art including information disclosedunder 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.99

In the spring of 1998, six lavender plants (two Spanish, Lavandulastoeches; two Sweet Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia; and two Provence,Lavandula×intermedia) were planted in full to partial sunlight on a westfacing slope on the applicant's property. In the winter of 1998/1999,dieback occurred in the two Sweet Lavender plants (approximately 20% inone and 40% in the other). One of the Spanish Lavender plants also hadabout 40% dieback. The two Provence Lavender plants did much better withonly minor dieback splotches. In the following years, 2000 and 2001, theSweet Lavender and the Spanish Lavender all but died out; and,therefore, these plants were pulled out and destroyed. The remaining twoProvence Lavender plants, while somewhat shabby in appearance due tosome dieback and woody growth occurring in the years from 1998 through2001, were the original host plants from which cuttings were taken inthe spring of 2002.

Plants from the cuttings, asexual reproductions from the two parentProvence plants numbering approximately thirty in total, were planted inlate summer of 2002 in a prepared contour row located on a knoll, six toeight feet out and parallel to a woodland consisting of mixed hardwoodsand pines. The woodland is located northeast of this cultivated contourrow. Located to the southwest of this row (which runs from south tonorth) is an open meadow. The lavender in this row receives mid to lateafternoon and evening sun from a western sun exposure. The elevation ofthe lavender row is 2,130 feet above sea level. In the early summer of2003, following the initial plantings in 2002, subsequent cuttings weretaken from the earlier cloned plants in this row of lavender and placedback into the row in the fall of 2003 in order to fill the row out.

In June of 2010, it was noticed that some of the plants in this nowsomewhat older row of lavender plants showed a deeper purple¹* color intheir flower heads than the majority of the remaining plants. Uponinvestigating these plants, it was also observed that they had a moredeeply floral fragrance than the remaining plants. Because they show asignificant characteristic difference from the original parent plantsand the other plants in the row that were from the same parent plants, alavender variety (cultivar) study was conducted over a four year period.No association with the original Spanish or Sweet Lavender plants isapparent in the plantings, and only the two original Provence Lavenderplants were used in the initial cuttings. * Note: color references,numbering 1 through 12, are found under “Color Key Reference”.

Results from the study conducted by the applicant, along with thepresence of the actual progression of cloned plantings (asexualreproductions) on the above property, support a new lavender variety(cultivar) presence. All subsequent plants from cuttings of precedingplants have maintained the same differing and desirable characteristicsfrom that of the original parent Provence Lavender plants. It isbelieved that the new plants discovered in 2010 and the subsequentre-propagated offspring plants from asexual cuttings are a form of amutation occurrence which resulted in a new variety (cultivar) ofLavandula×intermedia that occurred at some point in time between thedate of the first plantings in the year 2002 and the year 2010, the yearthe cultivar was first discovered. This occurrence, resulting fromnatural and/or environmental conditions in the field, therefore,produced new morphological expressions in the clones taken from theinitial Provence Lavender plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While this new lavender cultivar shares some attributes with otherlavender varieties, such as Lavandula×intermedia ‘Dutch’;Lavandula×intermedia ‘Abrialii’; and Lavandula×intermedia ‘Provence’,from which the subject lavender plants were propagated; the overallcharacteristics of this new plant are notably different from theaforementioned varieties (cultivars). Also, it should not be confusedwith Gros Blue, a relatively new Lavandin cultivar from France, withnear navy blue flower heads, in lue of deep purple¹ to vivid purple²flower heads. Nor should it be confused with Lavandula×intermedia‘Phenomenal’, introduced in 2012 by Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, Pa.,which has similar attributes, but with bluer bud color and light greento silver-gray leaves.

The flower spikes in this new plant variety (cultivar) are not quite asnarrow as Dutch Lavender, and the flower heads are a deep purple¹ tovivid purple² with strikingly purple³ calyxes in early flowerdevelopment, unlike either Dutch Lavender or Provence Lavender whichhave violet-green calyxes. Also, the leaves are not as silvery-green andbroad as Dutch Lavender. Furthermore, this new cultivar has proven to behardy and disease free throughout the test period, whereas Abrialii, aclose look alike, is subject to disease, has short plant life, has notbeen planted or introduced in anyway to the property proper; and haspurple to gray-blue calyxes instead of the green⁴ turning to darkpurple³ calyxes of the new ‘Bridget Chloe’ cultivar. In addition, thesubject lavender's dried flower buds tend to be more elongated and justa bit thinner, are more richly floral in fragrance, and are not aseasily separated from the flower spikes as is Provence Lavender. Thedried flower buds from Provence Lavender for the most part are plump,very fragrant with a camphorous overtone, easily separate from theflower spikes, and turn gray as in the case for the majority of theLavandins. On the other hand, when harvested at peak calyx development,this new plant cultivar's dried flower buds partially hold their darkpurple³ color as in the case for Lavandula×intermedia ‘Grosso’ whichdries to a similar dark purple color.

The difference with the new plant variety (cultivar) ofLavandula×intermedia ‘Bridget Chloe’ is, that when the flower spikes aredeveloping, its fragrance begins firstly, with a hint or slight note(aroma) similar to that of black Cavendish tobacco, and then transformsthrough bud development to secondly, a desirable mild lilac note, and,lastly, a strong, rich, floral fragrance with a pleasing, non pungent,floral covered camphorous note. Immature flowers in the new plantvariety (cultivar) display deep green⁵ flower bracts and green⁴ turningto dark purple³ calyxes; whereas, mature flowers have desirable deepgreen⁵ bracts, dark purple³ calyxes, and deep purple¹ to vivid purple²corollas. However, it should be noted that if this plant receives lessthan full sun exposure (is partially shaded); the developed flowercalyxes turn from dark purple³ back to green⁴, less the fringes, upondevelopment of vivid purple² corollas. Thus, the more sun exposure, thedarker the flower color in the cultivar. Provence lavender buds are moreuniformly purple⁶ throughout development, with from green⁴ to brown⁷bracts at full maturity.

Furthermore, this new plant variety (cultivar) makes for an impressiveornamental and/or row crop with an easily maintained mounded habit andhas proven to be extremely hardy in the field as propagated and grown inUnion County, Ga., rendering it suitable for planting in high humidityareas of the southeastern United States, USDA Zone-7; and, a stronglikelihood of being suitable for Hardiness Zones 5 through 9 as is thecase for the parent plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING (PHOTOGRAPH)

Number 1: Growth Habit of Plant in Early Flower Development

Depicts growth habit of the new plant cultivar in the early month ofJune, when the flower spikes are still developing. Note: uniform,compact habit of overall plant; and deep green^(5**) foliage. ** Adeeper green than that found in Provence Lavender.

Number 2: Growth Habit of Plant at Mature Flower Development

Depicts growth habit of the new plant in mid to late June, when flowerspikes are fully developed. Note: plants mature flower heads; thespraying outwards, erect/semi-aslope growth form; and continued uniform,compact habit of the plant.

Number 3: Close-up View of Individual Flower Head in Early PlantDevelopment

Depicts the individual parts of the plant's flowers in early plantdevelopment. Note: deep green⁵ flower bracts; and gree⁴ turning to darkpurple³ calyxes.

Number 4: Close-up View of Individual Flower Head at Flower Maturity

Depicts the individual parts of the plant's flowers at flower maturity.Note: dark purple³ calyxes; and deep purple¹ to vivid purple² corollas.

Number 5: Plant Habit in its Dormancy

Depicts plant's habit in its dormancy. Note: bluish¹⁰, silver-green⁸ tograyish¹¹ color of the foliage; and the compact habit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The subject new plant variety (cultivar) belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint)family. The genus is Lavandula. The species it belongs to is×intermedia, and the variety name is ‘Bridget Chloe’. The full name forthis plant is Lavandula×intermedia ‘Bridget Chloe’. The species ormarket class for this plant is also referred to as a Lavandin. Theparent plants from which this Plant cultivar has been cloned wereLavandula×intermedia ‘Provence’. This plant is a clone, grown fromcuttings rather than from seeds. Characteristic of the Lavendins, it hasa highly floral fragrance.

At its maturity the subject plant grows to a height of from 61.6 to 76.8centimeters (2.0 to 2.5 feet), and has a width of from 76.8 to 107.8centimeters (2.5 to 3.5 feet). Unlike Provence Lavender, the foliage hasa deeper green⁵ color in the spring and early summer months. In mid tolate summer, the foliage exhibits a silver-green⁸/gray⁹ color. ProvenceLavender has a lighter green⁴ hue to its color at this time of year. Inthe fall and winter the new cultivar has distinct bluish¹⁰,silver-green⁸ to grayish¹¹ foliage; whereas, Provence Lavender has agrayish¹¹-green⁴ color in these latter seasons. The bluish¹⁰ color ofthe new cultivar is more noticeable under shade or on overcast days. Theindividual, long, silver-green⁸ to gray⁹, narrow, lanceolate leaves ofthe new cultivar during the dormancy period closely resemble the colorand structure of the leaves of Provence Lavender, and with the nakedhuman eye, are not readably distinguishable from that of ProvenceLavender.

The habit of the invention is a mounded shrub, and has a more evenspread than Provence lavender. It has long flowering stems withattractive conical flower spikes consisting of deep purple¹ to vividpurple² flowers, rather than the uniform purple⁶ flowers found in theProvence lavender spikes. There are, in the case of Lavandins,occasional axial flower shoots occurring on the flower stems of the newplant cultivar. Also, of note, the new plant cultivar has deep green⁵bracts throughout the flower bloom, even when the corollas are turningbrown¹². Provence Lavender, on the other hand, has green⁴ turning tobrown⁷ bracts during flower development.

The striking difference with this new plant variety (cultivar) is thatit is very hardy in a hot, humid environment, with noticeably lessfoliage dieback in the summer months, and has low root rot occurrences.Also, this new cultivar has demonstrated a strong resistance to bothLavender Leaf Spot and the Alfalfa Mosaic Virus.

Furthermore, what sets this new plant cultivar of Lavandula×intermediaapart, is that when the flower spikes are developing, its multi-facetedfragrance begins firstly, with a hint or slight note (aroma) similar tothat of black Cavendish tobacco, and then transforms through buddevelopment to secondly, a desirable mild lilac note, and, lastly, astrong, rich, floral fragrance with a pleasing, non pungent, floralcovered camphorous note. This strong, rich, floral fragrance continuesto be observed in the dried flower buds from this plant, and it is longlasting. This multi noted aroma falls within the Aromatic Fougerefragrance category.

Most notably, immature flowers in this new plant variety (cultivar)display the deep green⁵ flower bracts and green⁴ turning to dark purple³calyxes whereas, mature flowers have desirable deep green⁵ bracks, darkpurple³ calyxes, and deep purple¹ to vivid purple² corollas, unlikeProvence and other Lavandin expressions in this market class. When thisplant receives less than full sun exposure (is partially shaded); thedeveloped flower calyxes turn from dark purple³ back to green⁴, less thefringes, upon development of vivid purple² corollas. Thus, the more sunexposure, the darker the flower color in the cultivar. Provence lavenderbuds are more uniformly purple⁶ throughout development, with from green⁴to brown⁷ bracts at full maturity.

For this plant, the average length of the flowering stems is from 35.9to 44.4 centimeters (14.0 to 17.3 inches) above foliage. The plant has aspraying outwards, erect/semi-aslope, growth form. It has an averageflowering terminal spike length of 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches) withoutthe lower cluster included, and 11.6 centimeters (4.5 inches) with thelower cluster included; an average flower cluster (whorl) number perspike of 11.5, with up to fourteen not uncommon; and a flower number of5 to 9 per bract, with from 10 to 18 per cluster. The deep green⁵leaf-like bracts are ovate-rhombic in form and have a width to lengthratio of 2.00 to 3.20. Typically, the bracts are opposite paired, withalternate 90° placement along the length of the conical flower spike.The tubular dark purple³ calyx is strongly ribbed with thirteen veinsand is five-toothed. The lower clusters are more separated with thelowest being from 2.6 to 9.0 centimeters (1.0 to 3.5 inches) below theupper clusters. The deep purple¹ to vivid purple² corolla is typicallytwo-lipped.

Other attributes include the following: It is a perennial herb; is animpressive ornamental; is highly vigorous and produces numerous flowerspikes; can be used for both cut and dried flowers; is suitable forborder or group plantings and row crops; is culinary; and is both rabbitand deer resistant.

*Color Key Reference Using “NBS-ISCC Centroids by Number” Text ColorName & Ref. No. NBS-ISCC No. NBS-ISCC Color “deeper or deep purple” ¹219 Deep Purple “vivid purple” ² 216 Vivid Purple “strikingly or darkpurple” ³ 220 Very Deep Purple “green” ⁴ 117 Strong Yellow Green “deepor greener” ⁵ 118 Deep Yellow Green “purple” ⁶ 194 Vivid Purplish Blue“brown” ⁷ 76 Light Yellowish Brown “silver-green” ⁸ 154 Light GreenishGray “gray” ⁹ 190 Light Bluish Gray “bluish” ¹⁰ 186 Grayish Blue“grayish” ¹¹ 191 Bluish Gray “brown” ¹² 57 Light Brown

1. This Claim is for a new lavender plant cultivar (Lavandin) namedLavandula×intermedia ‘Bridget Chloe’, which exhibits unique qualities ofboth different and beneficial attributes for the plant's market class,consisting of exciting new color exhibits, pleasing rich floralfragrance, and plant hardiness.